Daniel J. Gallagher

Daniel passed away on October 5, 2024, just one month shy of his 95th birthday. Born on November 6, 1929, in Salem, Massachusetts to the late Daniel J. Gallagher and Helen (LeFleur) Gallagher, Dan was raised and educated in Salem.

Growing up in the South Salem neighborhood during the Great Depression and WWII era, Dan’s youth was filled with sports, boyhood adventures and forming close bonds with the neighborhood kids, many whom would become lifelong friends. These experiences were the fodder for many humorous stories Dan would tell over the years.

Upon graduating from high school, Dan held various jobs that included work in local leather factories, construction work at the Salem Power plant, and his favorite, lifeguarding at Salem Willows. It was during this time in his life that he and a buddy hatched a plan to hitchhike to Florida. During the trip, they narrowly averted disaster when the trucker who picked them up fell asleep. Dan was able to grab the wheel from the passenger seat thus guiding them to safety.

In 1951, with the draft a looming reality Dan enlisted in the army and landed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he completed basic training. Despite his admitted indifference to being a soldier, Dan volunteered to fight in Korea. After serving two years in the service, he made his way back home in the spring of 1953. After his return to Salem, he resumed his plan to become a teacher and did so by utilizing the GI bill. He first attended Worcester State that fall and was able to transfer to Salem State the following year. Dan graduated from Salem State in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in education.

Attending Salem State brought about another twist of fate in Dan’s life in the spring of 1956. Having enrolled in a required music class he met an outgoing freshman from Marblehead named Janis Goodwin. They soon started dating and were married in 1958 and ultimately settled in Marblehead where they built their home and raised their family.

Dan began his teaching career in New Haven, CT in 1957. After a year in Connecticut, he was eager to return to the North Shore and accepted a position in Melrose, MA. He taught social studies and history at the junior high and the high school. Dan remained in Melrose for the remainder of his teaching career. In addition to teaching, Dan enjoyed bartending at Dill’s Restaurant after his brother Larry bought the business in the early 1970’s.

During summers in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, Dan was selected to attend summer institute programs offered to educators. He attended these programs at Union College, Ohio University, and for three consecutive summers at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign where he earned an additional Master’s degree in Economics. During his time at the University of Illinois he became an avid fan of the fighting Illini sports teams. His great passion for the team became quite evident in 2009. That December he had an unfortunate accident where he fell from the roof fracturing nine ribs and a collarbone. Despite these injuries, which resulted in a two-week hospital and rehab stay, he insisted on setting the VCR to record that night’s Illinois game before heading to the ER.

Dan retired from teaching in 1993 and remained very active. He continued to be faithful in his daily workouts at the Lynn YMCA as he had done regularly since the 1960’s. Summers were dedicated to tennis matches each morning with his tennis group at the Seaside courts in Marblehead. As an avid football fan, Dan enjoyed following college games and attending all the Marblehead football games with his group of Marblehead sports enthusiasts which included Rob Carr, Mo Carr as well as dear family friend, the late Dick Farrar. As a voracious reader, he continued his love of reading in retirement and could often be seen walking out of Abbot library with a pile of books tucked under his arm. On any given day, he could be found involved in the latest home improvement project, tinkering with his car or cooking some of his favorite dishes.

Dan will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He will be remembered fondly as a wonderful husband, father and grandfather as well as a great teacher, mentor and friend. In addition to his wife Janis of 66 years, he leaves his children Steve Gallagher, his wife Lisa and their daughter Clara, Kimberly Gallagher and Jon Gallagher and his girlfriend, Karen Kramer all of Marblehead. He also leaves his sister-in-law Linda Goodwin Balser and brother-in-law Don Balser of Marblehead. Dan also leaves many beloved nieces and nephews and his dear friend and former student Nels Nelson of Peabody, MA. He was predeceased by his parents, sister Lorraine Gallagher Marrs of Bennington, VT and brother Lawrence Gallagher of Salem, MA.

Visiting hours for Daniel will be held on Thursday, October 10, 2024 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Eustis & Cornell of Marblehead, 142 Elm Street. His graveside service will be held on Friday, October 11, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Waterside Cemetery, 294 W Shore Drive, Marblehead. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Marblehead Magicians Gridiron Club at P.O. Box 505, Marblehead, MA 01945, the Abbot Public Library or a charity of your choice. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at eustisandcornellfuneralhome.com for Daniel's family.